Plug aeration do’s and dont’s

[Brian46EST]

In a month I’ll be starting my fall project of overseeding and am hoping to get some input/tips/warnings from the experienced ppl on this great site.

My plan is to use a tow behind agri-fab plug aerator (48) to loosen the compacted soil in my lawn, then I’ll be following up with an application of black beauty ultra and the Jonathan green seeding and sodding fertilizer.

I’ve never aerated before, only dethatched, so I’m very new to this. I know that I’ll need to wait for a day after it has rained when the ground isn’t soaked, and I read you need to drive the tractor slowly. What else should I be aware of before I start my project? I want to make sure I don’t mess up my lawn and I want to be sure my seed investment isn’t washed down the drain.

Note: I’m in CT; have a mix of rye, tall fescue and kbg; I’m working with 33k sq ft so watering is not very easy or even reliably viable for me so I have to rely heavily on precipitation.

Thanks for anyone’s input!

[turf_toes]

I’d suggest searching the site for aeration.

You’ll find plenty of advice.

search.php?keywords=Aeration&terms=all& ... mit=Search

[MorpheusPA]

Usually starting with, "Don't aerate."

There are exceptions, but...

[seiyafan]

Better to use that money on high quality seeds.

[BIGDADDY13]

Usually starting with, "Don't aerate."

There are exceptions, but...

With a yard as big as his, my guess is he is probably using a pretty large mower to get it done. I have 45K square feet and have a ztr, a Kubota BX and another rider, but each of those compacts my lawn every season. It needs a aeration to alleviate the compaction and allow it to breathe (soil is also a bit moist as well year round which exacerbates the compaction a bit)

[turf_toes]

Unless your tires are in the same tracks every pass, I’d still not suggest aeration. I drive my pickup on my lawn quite a bit (including through a fence truck gate where I am forced to drive in the same wheel tracks) and I’ve never needed to aerate - ever.

[Brian46EST]

Usually starting with, "Don't aerate."

There are exceptions, but...

With a yard as big as his, my guess is he is probably using a pretty large mower to get it done. I have 45K square feet and have a ztr, a Kubota BX and another rider, but each of those compacts my lawn every season. It needs a aeration to alleviate the compaction and allow it to breathe (soil is also a bit moist as well year round which exacerbates the compaction a bit)

I do have a large lawn and I do use a large lawn tractor to get the mowing done. I usually mow in different patterns, there’s never a vehicle on the lawn, and foot traffic is basically nonexistent outside of me mowing. Still, there are some spots across the yard that feel like concrete. Even so with the sandy loam I have. So I’m just torn on aeration after seeing so much conflicted information.

[BIGDADDY13]

With mine, I usually hit the aeration really hard in the fall. My mowers and my Kubota really pack our lawn down quite a bit. I do vary the moving pattern every time, but still get compaction as the soil is moist most of the season.

[bolson32]

I also have sandy loam and it's like concrete. I'm starting to wonder if there's something more to that soil type over extended periods than meets the eye. Especially in cool-season climates.

[flyin-lowe]

So for those of you who do not aerate, what are your thoughts on seed germination rates for large scale overseed on an aerated lawn V a non aerated lawn. All I hear is the germination rates are 10x's if not hundreds of times higher on an freshly aerated lawn. That is what I have coming up this fall, overseeding an acre that was planted this spring. My initial instincts (which can be wrong, lol) are that I could use a pre emergent next spring and control a lot of the issues aerating might cause. I feel like the increased germination (if it's a thing) would outweigh the negatives of the weeds, especially with the future use of pre emergents............

[seiyafan]

Germination rate depends on how well the seeds are kept moist on the ground (w/ or w/o covering), once the seeds dry out they are dead for good.

[turf_toes]

I’ve done more than a dozen roundup (total kill) renovations. I’ve never had to aerate and I’ll put my results up against anyone’s.

Core aeration is unnecessary if you properly prepare your seed bed.

As noted in the post above this one, keeping the seed moist is key.

[PALawnGuy5]

I'll never mechanically aerate again. The triv that spread as a result is worse than my soil being a little compacted. I'll only use soil conditioners from here on out.

[flyin-lowe]

Not trying to sound argumentative, I'm genuinely asking. What would you do to prepare the seed bed if you were overseeing an acre that had to rely on mother nature for water.

[seiyafan]

One acre and no irrigation? Find a wet week, otherwise pray and lots of whiskey.

[MorpheusPA]

Drink the whiskey straight, throw the water on the lawn.

[pristinegreen75]

Drink the whiskey straight, throw the water on the lawn.

AMEN BROTHER

[bolson32]

I honestly think I'm going to try dormant seeding this winter on a few small spots.

I have the same thing. 1.5 acres, no irrigation. I'd truthfully like to overseed at least 2/3 of it. But we've had a bad drought year so I haven't been able to do much.

[bpgreen]

I don't have an acre, but not only do I not have irrigation, I'm not allowed to water with my hose.

And I live in Utah, the second driest state in the country.

I dormant seed.

I spread the seed just before the first good snowfall and hope for the best. In areas where the snow completely melts off at times throughout the winter, I think it might be better to wait until February before spreading the seed.

Since I'm seeding native and naturalized grasses, if conditions aren't right the year I seed, the seed may just sit there for a year (or several months) and germinate when conditions are good.

[MorpheusPA]

In those cases, that's about the best thing you can do if you can't water. It's not optimal, but dormant seeding is often your best shot. Spring is going to be wetter than fall is through a lot of the US.

The seed will sprout when temperatures rise enough for it to do so.